Insulator



Dec. 16, 194.1. REED 2,266,400

INSULATOR Filed April 8, 1940 INVENTOR Patented Dec. 16, 1941 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE INSULATOR Frederick Foster Reed, Lyndhurst, N. J.

Application April 8, 1940, Serial No. 328,592

5 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in insulators and particularly toinsulators of the pin-type design which are used to insulate electricpower lines included in the last stages of the network used to supplypower to the consumer; for example, a high-tension transmission line of132,000 volts is brought from a generating station to a switchingstation, where the voltage is transformed down to 26,400, and then thepower is carried to a substation from which it is again transformed downto 4,150, which voltage supplies the network going to the consumer,where it is again transformed down to 440-220 or 110, and it is in thisrange, below the substation, where my improved type of insulator is tobe used.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a device of theabove-indicated character that is universally adaptable bothstructurally and electrically for use in the three major forms ofelectric power line construction. These major forms are, first,top-groove construction; second, side-groove construction; third,street-light loop construction.

Another object of my invention is to provide a universal type ofinsulator which will take the place of a plurality of insulators nowused for the forms of service above mentioned, thereby reducing thetypes of insulators required to be carried in stock, thus reducing theinvestment in insulators and the space required in the stock rooms.

A further object is to provide an insulator for the service mentionedwhich is stronger, both mechanically and electrically, than insulatorsof the prior art.

My invention is particularly advantageous during emergency calls, whereit is usually impossible to predetermine the type of line constructionat fault.

In general, the object of my invention is to provide an insulator thatwill be simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture,and effective in its operation.

These and other objects will be understood by one skilled in the use ofsuch devices. I accomplish the foregoing objects by the constructionillustrated in the drawing forming a part hereof.

In the drawing, which is part in elevation and part in section, I haveshown the insulator as a one-piece construction and formed ofappropriate dielectric material, preferably glass or porcelain. Thedevice is represented as consisting of a general cylindrical body, withits top transversely grooved at l for the reception of a line conductor,and peripherally grooved at 2 for the reception of a line conductor orfor the accommodation of the usual tie wire for holding down a conductorin groove l in the conventional manner; and peripherally grooved at 3for the reception of a line conductor. The lower edge of the body isformed with an annular groove 5 defining a main or outer skirt 4 and apetticoat 6. The undercarriage surfaces 1 and I0 approach a verticalplane and serve to discourage the condensation of moisture from forminga definite beading in these areas. This is a material improvement overthe usual umbrella construction which tends to hold moisture such asoccasioned by fog.

A very important feature of this invention is the position of the pincavity 8 in reference to the positions of the conductor grooves 2 and 3.The use of these conductor grooves singularly or in combination fortheir respective purposes, places the assembled insulating unit undercantilever stress. Due to the nature of the insulating materialsgenerally used, preferably glass or porcelain, the major componentstress on the insulation should be compression. It is thereforeimportant that the section of insulating material between the pin cavity8 and the bottom of the side-groove cavities 2 and 3 be of a solid massof insulation, and that with the insulator conventionally screwed on itsassembly pin, the pin will back up this solid mass of insulation. Thiswill insure suflicient and uniform mechanical strength.

Another feature in this invention is that the extreme diameter of theprotruding peripheral rib or conductor separator 9, and the bottomoutside diameter of the defined main or outer skirt 4, are the same.This feature permits contact area at the bottom of the insulator andalso at a midway point of the insulator when these insulators are placedadjacent to one another in the storage shelves. This distributed contactarea will limit the possibility of impact breakage, which of itself isquite an item of expense in prior-art insulators used for the purposeherein set forth.

Specifically, the major forms of use, to which reference has been made,are now described in detail. The top groove construction as illustrated,or groove I, is used to support a conductor when said conductor is in astraight or reasonably straight line. The size of this groove is made toaccommodate conductor sizes up to and including No. 4/0 rubber-coveredor weather-proofed cable, and will allow the conductor to seat in thebottom of the groove cavity. In this case, groove 2, as illustrated, isused for the tie wire to securely tie the conductor in groove I inplace, and thus prevent the conductor from becoming dislodged from theinsulator.

The side-groove construction utilizes groove 2 and is used to supportthe conductor when said conductor terminates at a horizontal angle fromthe vertical axis of the insulator. It is proper power line constructionto allow the conductor to rest in that portion of groove 2 which isoutside the angle ma-de by the conductor in reference tolthe-verticalaxis of the insulator. With the customary side-groove tie, thisconstruction limits the possibility of the conductor becoming dislodgedfrom the insulator. The size of groove 2 is made to accommodateconductor sizes up to and including No. 4/0 rubber-covered orweather-proofed cable, and will allow the con ductor to seat in thebottom of the groove cavity.

The street-light loop construction utilizes the '1 combination ofgrooves 2 and 3 which are used to support the severed conductor bylooping one severed end of the conductor around the peripheral groove 2,and, bylooping the other severed end of the conductor around theperipheral groove 3.. The two free ends of the severed conductor arethen connected to thegtreet-light fixture. Thesize of groove 3 is madeto accommodate conductor sizes up to and including No. 4 rubbercoveredorweather-proofed wire, and will allow the conductor to seat in thebottom of the groove cavity.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawing, it will beapparent that I have provided an insulator possessing numerousadvantages not found in prior-art devices of this type. I

Iclaim:

1. An: insulator of the pin-type for use in distribution of electricpower comprising a body completely of suitable dielectric materialhaving a pin cavity, the body having a transverse top groove and anannular side groove similar to the top groove to receive, under onecondition of installation, the same size electrical conductor as thetopgroove, or, atie wire under a second condition of. installation, thebody further having a second annular sidegroove spaced belowthe-firstmentioned side groove and of a size to receive a smallerconductor of the size usually used for street-light loops, the said sidegrooves being divided and formed in part, by a continuous: rib the bodyalso having an annular groove in its bottom edge and extending upwardly,dividing the, bottom edge intoan outer skirt and a petticoat.

2. An insulator of the pin type for use in distribution of electric,power comprising a .body completely of suitable dielectric materialhaving a pin cavity, the body having a transverse top groove and anannular side groove-similar to the top groove to receive, under onecondition of installation, the same size electrical conductor as the topgroove, or a tie wire under a second condition of installation, the bodyfurther having a second annular side groove spaced below thefirst-mentioned side groove and of a size to receive a smaller conductorof the size usually used for street-light loops, the said side groovesbeing divided and formed in part by a continuous rib ,the body alsohaving an annular groove in its 7 bottom edge and extending upwardly,dividing the bottom edge into an outer. skirt and a petticoat, the sidewalls of this latter groove approaching a vertical plane to reducecondensation to a minimum.

3. An insulator of the pin type for use in distribution of electricpower comprising a body completely of suitable dielectric materialhaving a pin cavity, the body having a transverse top groove and anannular upper side groove adjacent the top groove and similar to the topgroove to receive, under one condition of installation, the same sizeelectrical conductor as the top groove, or a tie wire under a secondcondition of installation, the body further having a second annular sidegroove spaced below the first-mentioned side groove and of a size toreceive a smaller conductor of the size usually used for street-lightloops, the upper side groove also being adapted to receive anothersimilar loop conductor for cooperative action with the conductor in thesecond-mentioned side groove, the body also having an annular groove inits bottom edge and extending upwardly, dividing: the bottom edge intoan outer skirt and a petti'coat, thetwo annular side grooves beingseparated. by a con;- tinuous peripheral. rib having a. diameter sub;-stantially the same as that, of the skirt.

4. An insulator of the: pin typefor use. in distribution of electricpower. comprising a. body completely of suitable dielectricmaterialhaving a pin cavity, the body having a transverse top groove and anannular upper side groove similar to the top groove-and mergingtherewithto re,- ceive, under one condition of, installation, the samesize electrical conductor as the topgroove with a tie-wire, or a tiewire alone'under apsecond condition of installation, thebody furtherhaving a second annular side groove spaced; below the first-mentionedside groove and of a: size to receive a smaller conductor'of thesizeusually used for street-light loops, theupper side groove also beingadapted to receive another similar. loop conductor for cooperativeaction with the COD: ductor in the second-mentioned side, groove, thebody also having an annular groove in: its: bottom edge and extendingupwardly,v dividing the bottom edge into an outer skirt and a petticoat,the depth of the side annular grooves being an.- proximately thesame,andthe section of insulate ing material between the pin cavity and. thebottoms of said grooves being a solid mass. backed by the pin when theinsulator is assembled thereon as and for the purpose described;

5. A universal pin-type insulator for theservice described, comprising abodycompletely of suit.- able insulating material having a cavity for: apinand also having a top-transverse grooveand a pair of annular sidegrooves separated. by'a continuous circular rib, the upper of the: sidegrooves being similar to the top groove; to; receive conductors varyingin sizeup: to and including the size that fits the top groove, while thelower of the side grooves is shaped: to; take a conductor suitable. forloop distribution: purposes in cooperation with another conductorfeeding supply current to the loop and' positioned in the upper sidegroove, the body also having: a vertically positioned groove forming askirt and a petticoat, the walls of this latter groove approaching avertical plane to reduce condensae tion to a minimum.

: FREDERICK FOSTER REED.

